In May, NACCOM was asked to give evidence to the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee, which was looking into the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP’s) response to the Coronavirus. Jessie Seal, NACCOM’s Campaigns and Policy Co-ordinator, appeared by video link to talk about […]
Hazel Williams, NACCOM’s National Director, reflects on the damaging impact of racism within the UK’s immigration system, and underlines NACCOM’s commitment to being an anti-racist organisation, through our work, policies and practices. NACCOM’s full statement on our anti-racism commitment: The Black Lives Matter protests of the last […]
At NACCOM, a key way that we work to end destitution is by gathering evidence on the needs of people requiring the services of our membership, due to failures in the immigration system that have left them homeless and destitute. Such data, alongside the stories of people with lived experience of such injustices, informs our policy and campaign work whilst supporting the development of good […]
Since the onset of the pandemic in the UK, alongside other organisations in the sector, NACCOM has been campaigning the Government to introduce some key policy changes in order to protect and support people with insecure migration status, those seeking asylum and refugees experiencing homelessness and destitution […]
Our Campaigns and Policy Coordinator, Jessie Seal, gives us an update on some key advocacy activity and developments from the last few weeks. Joint campaigns: #LiftTheBan This week, the #LiftTheBan coalition held their first meeting since the start of the new parliament. Some incredible work has been […]
On International Women’s Day 2020 (#IWD2020), we’re sharing the story of Leah, who spoke to us about her experiences as a woman left destitute by the UK asylum system. My name is Leah. I’m a destitute asylum seeker. I live in Nottingham. I would like to share […]
Nearly all new refugees in the UK experience a period of destitution after they have been granted status, as asylum support ends 28 days on from a positive decision, whilst the first payment of Universal Credit is not made for 35 days. This “in-built” period where no […]
New cost-benefit analysis shows that extending the refugee move-on period would save public money – but we must not lose sight of the moral case for changing a policy that leaves people ‘destitute by design’, writes Jessie Seal, NACCOM’s Policy and Campaigns Coordinator. “On Tuesday (18th February), […]
The charity Women for Refugee Women has released some important new research looking into the experiences of asylum-seeking women in the UK. The new report, Will I ever be safe? Asylum-seeking women made destitute in the UK, features evidence from partners across the UK including NACCOM member […]
Whatever the outcome of today’s General Election, NACCOM is asking the next Government to adopt these key policies to #EndDestitution amongst people seeking asylum, refugees and other migrants with no recourse to public funds. Hazel Williams, NACCOM’s National Director, commented: “Destitution has a devastating impact on the […]
Last week, Scotland’s highest court ruled that lock-change evictions of people seeking asylum without court orders are legal. This means that those whose asylum claims have been refused can be evicted, putting them at immediate risk of homelessness at an extremely vulnerable point in their lives, and […]
In this compelling guest blog, Phil Davis, Coordinator for Hope Projects in Birmingham, part of the NACCOM network, looks at some of the key factors that lead to destitution for those who are appeal rights exhausted, and argues that in the context of the asylum system, destitution […]
Each year, NACCOM members provide information on the number, needs and experiences of people accommodated through their services who are facing destitution because of the immigration system. This unique body of evidence from our members is the only data set of its kind and is vital to […]
Right to Rent legislation obliges landlords to undertake checks to ensure they are not providing private accommodation to those with certain immigration restrictions. Brought in under the 2014 Immigration Act, the scheme has served as a key component of the hostile environment for years, but in March […]
Later this month, join Docs Not Cops, Migrants Organise, Medact, JCWI, Runnymede Trust and 500 supporters and campaigners for the launch of the Patients Not Passports toolkit and learn how together we can bring down the Hostile Environment in the NHS. Patients not Passports: Challenging Far Right […]
In 2012, Theresa May declared ‘The aim is to create here in Britain a really hostile environment for illegal migration‘. Over the past few weeks the abhorrent reality of Theresa May’s hostile environment has come to surface- even my Mum was asking me about those Windrush folk […]
